Carmelo Anthony accuses the Denver Nuggets of intentionally giving Nikola Jokic the No. 15 that Melo wore for eight seasons in an attempt to "erase" his accomplishments with the team.
"When you think of 15 in Denver now, to this generation, you thinking Joker," Anthony said on the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, his recently launched podcast with the Kid Mero.
In his nine seasons with the Nuggets, Jokic has put together quite the résumé, with five All-Star selections and two NBA MVPs while also helping bring a championship to Denver for the first time in franchise history.
Jokic may have already done enough to get his jersey number retired by the Nuggets when the 28-year-old's career comes to an end. But Anthony cannot help but feel disrespected by what he believes to be the organization's decision to give him the No. 15.
"I'm like, 'Fuck is going on? 15?'" Anthony said of seeing Jokic wear No. 15 for the first time at the 1:16:18 mark. "So now, just start thinking, this is because this is the narrative that they put out there—he wanted to leave, he wanted to do this, you know, he wasn't—but nah, but why would you disrespect by even offering that [number]? The disrespect in you offering that showed me that you just wanted to erase everything that came prior to that right there."
The 10-time All-Star continued, "It's fuck y'all. You saying fuck me dead smack to the rest of the world. I ain't never said anything bad about y'all, y'all boo me."
Melo believes the Nuggets gave No. 15 to Jokic on purpose, instead of offering him a few numbers to choose from. He went on to agree with Mero calling the decision a "petty maneuver."
Anthony thinks Jokic was put in the middle of the whole situation. "He don't know what the fuck going on," he said. "He could've worn it because he wanted to pay homage. But what I believe is that they gave him 15 to try to erase what I did."
The Nuggets traded Anthony to the New York Knicks in 2011 after he pushed for a deal to get done. Their relationship was rocky toward the end, with rumors flying about his motives for wanting to go to New York. Upon joining the Knicks, Melo changed to No. 7 since No. 15 was retired twice for Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire.
Anthony saw a higher meaning to the switch to No. 7. "Now, like seven is the new thing. I'm in the Mecca. I'm back. I'm in it. It's a God's number," he said of the change. "So I'm not even thinking about 15."
He continues to prioritize No. 7, as evidenced by his "Stay Me7o" jacket.
